Show courageous T R first president to ride auto theodore roosevelt was the first president of the united states to ride in an automobile the event took place at hartford conn in september 1902 behind the presidential ident ial car followed a horse drawn vehicle in case of an emergency wrote one editor Roosevel ts display of courage was typical of him road maps were not available in in those days motorists used a blue book traveling guide containing directions such as go 2 miles to red barn turn right go 4 miles to covered bridge etc |